32. The Secret of Brahmastra - Part 3

Dronacharya resumed:

‘ Then listen, my sons. There is a mysterious relationship between the ‘mind’ and the 'matter' that constitute the visible and perceptible universe including the primordial forces. In fact, these two are not discreet or separate but they are the two ends of a continuum.’ Here the Guru paused  to observe his disciples’ reception to his utterances.

‘Revered Gurudev, are you saying something about ‘Yoga’?’ Arjun humbly enquired.

‘Yes son’, Drona replied and continued, ‘ precisely so. To be entitled to the possession of such supreme divine weapons which can destroy the world in seconds, one has to have the same degree of control over the mind and the senses as a true Yogi, nothing less’

The two students had no further queries, at least for the time being. The voice of the Guru resonated in an absolutely silent ambience:

‘ The mind is at the beginning of the ‘continuum’ I had just referred to. It is intangible and also the subtlest. It acquires a progressively grosser form – at first turns into tanmatra and this tanmatra thereafter act as the building blocks for all the gross matters of the world that we can perceive through our senses.

‘Our mind cannot perceive this extremely intricrate relationship. The nature of our mind is to keep exploring things that are external. It never wants to reflect on itself. But to be able to understand this basic relationship between the human ‘mind’ and the ‘matter’, one would have to first deeply meditate on one's own ‘mind’, for days and months till this relationship is understood well enough.’ Dronacharya paused again.

‘Exalted Gurudev, your words are like nectar, opening whole new horizons’- said Arjun. Ashwathama nodded in agreement.

‘Once this mystery has been unveiled to you and you are comfortably settled at this truth, you would realize a new strength within you - such that by your strong ‘will’ power you would be able to bring about changes in the world of matters. You can leverage the primordial nature’s forces and use them as weapon to destroy your enemy or for that matter the whole creation.

‘You would have realized that this type of weapons are available only to a supremely exalted mind. This has nothing to do with the conventional ‘arrows’ made of iron or steel or any metals. You can invoke this great force even on a ‘straw’ and apply it.'

31. The Secret of Brahmastra - Part 2

As the Guru began and his disciple young Arjun prepared to absorb every bit of the sound, like a red hot piece of iron vessel would suck drops of water, Ashwathama, Guru’s son also joined the session. He pulled an asana and quietly sat upon it on the ground. Dronacharya said:

‘Sons, to have a mastery over these supreme celestial weapons, you ought to acquire complete control over your mind and senses. This comes not easily- but only after sustained, hard practices and penances. That means lots of hardship! Most give up midway, frustrated.’ Guru looked at his twin young disciples, his experienced eyes deeply penetrating their mind. Arjun understood and made a pronouncement of his resolve:

‘Revered Gurudev! No matter what pains, troubles, practices this would need, I would undergo all of these. Either I succeed, or I give up my life. Kindly enlighten’

Ashwathama nodded in assent, and looked to his father with keen expectations.